Lyrically iLLz Reborn

“Today it’s all about sex, cash, flow.. nothing is original. Today it’s all about that sex, cash, flow… nothing is original.” As I sit here, with the stereo on full blast, head just’a bopping, foot just’a tapping, I can’t help but sing these words over and over. I don’t know if it was the rappers flow of the hook or the feel of the beat, all I know is the song got me, I was caught, I could not and would not forget that track, that album, or that artist. The track; Rebellious Parade, the mixtape; Aspire, the artist; Lyrically iLLz

New York native, Lyrically iLLz’s album Down To Earth was released in 2013, which later, his fans would soon learn would be the same year the Jamaica, Queens rapper would make his last appearance. Yes, Down To Earth was Lyrically iLLz last album, and if you happened to be at his concert at the “Trash Bar” in Brooklyn in 2013, you were lucky enough to witness his last performance. Now after rapping since the age of 12 the artist known as Lyrically iLLz is no more. But what happened to him? Did he die? No. Did he go to the same island that we all want to believe that Tupac has been hiding at for all these years? No. Or did he simply hang up his mic? Not even. Lyrically iLLz decided to take time to explore himself and his music. Through his journey of self exploration, Lyrically iLLz had an epiphany and realized it was time for a change, he believed it was time to become something more, and so, J.Artiste was born.

Formally known as Lyrically iLLz, the newly reborn and newly named J.Artiste assured that this transformation was more than a mere name change, it was a tribute to a loved one and the result of an artist evolving. “The name Artiste comes from my grandfather’s Willard Hines signature and how he signed his paintings Willartiste, he inspired me alot, I felt it was right” said Artiste. “The named Lyrically iLLz limited me,” he said. “I couldn’t call myself Lyrically iLLz and do certain types of music because people are expecting a certain sound.”

Not wanting to be put in a box, his name change also came with a switch up in rapping style.

“See Lyrically iLLz was known as a lyrical assassin, a guy that could just throw lyircs at you with the wordplay”. Artiste said. “But in 2015 I made the move to step outside of that box and changing it up, decided to make more artsy and universal music”.

Now in the midst of Spring 2018, J.Artiste will be making his official debut, performing the first time April 20th at SPiN NY.

He says he doesn’t feel nervous or pressured for his “coming out” party, but extremely motivated. “My last show was in 2013, so this is my first show as J.Artiste. I’m excited. It’ll be cool to feed off the crowd again,” Artiste said.

Tayvaughn Brown: I had the chance to listen to your music and I have to tell you, I’m a fan. It’s really good. It might be a little hard for me not to be biased in this interview (laughing).
Tayvaughn Brown: One thing I always like to ask people, what is the one thing you say to yourself or listen to in the morning that helps motivate you through the day?
J. Artiste: Keep going harder.

TB: One thing I say to myself, if I try hard enough I can take over the world, as long as I don’t fall making it out of the house. That’s what I like to say.
J. Artiste: Haha I like that saying, I think I’m gonna steal that!

TB: By all means.
TB: I can get into all that: where you’re from, what was your childhood like. But I want to know who are you? Who is J. Artiste? What defines you? What do you believe?
J. Artiste: I honestly don’t label myself nor do I call myself a brand. I guess if I had to, my brand is that I’m the Down to Earth, normal – average dude who loves to create music and inspire people. I am not your cliché rapper with the tatted faces, gold grills, that’s just not me. I make music that can influence people and society in general. Whether it’s expressing my own experiences or those of the people I grew up with – it’s these stories that inspire me to write the songs that I do; I’m just being me.

TB: One of my favorite tracks of yours is “Love Hate Thing.” It’s fire. Your marriage, your tone, what inspired your music, if any? Is there any artist that inspires your work?
J. Artiste: I’ve always gravitated towards artists who were not afraid to be different. Who creatively ventured far away from the trend. I’m talking about artists like Mos Def, Method Man and LL Cool J (just to name a few) who were ahead of their time. These guys were not afraid to jump outside the box a little bit and change the culture.
TB: I agree
J. Artiste: Even today, with the modern style of music, you see how artists try to re-incorporate more of an RnB sound with Trap. You have more artists like Bryson Tiller coming up; things are going more in a different way creatively. These types of artists are inspiring to me because they aren’t scared to sound different. They are not scared of their potential. I think way too many artists today play it safe by blending in and it makes them very forgettable. Sometimes different doesn’t have to be over the top – it can be something as simple as writing a topic you wouldn’t normally hear an artist talk about – or sing a different layer of melody over vocals. Creatively, our potential is limitless (at least that’s how I feel).

TB: I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about rap. There’s so many genres of music. You have someone like Uzi, then you have someone who likes RnB. Music has grown so broad that there are sub genres. I love where music is going.
TB: If you were not a music artist, thankfully you are, what would you be doing?
J. Artiste: I’d find a way to have a voice or be a public figure in some way. If not an artist, an actor, writer or something along those lines. It would definitely be in the artsy field. Let’s say anything where I can influence people creatively.

TB: You’re a writer, record producer and sound engineer. It sounds like you’re very talented and it’s not much you can’t do.
J. Artiste: Thank you, I try to go in different directions. It’s not about trying to wear too many hats. I don’t limit myself as an artist. I love being in the world of music. I like to do things creatively and influence change. I get inspired by so many other artists and sometimes see their potential more than they do, that I want to be a part of their development and growth as well. I want to bring out the best of them because I see what they’re capable of – so when I’m not being an artist myself, it’s almost like I HAVE to be around it in other ways. It makes me feel complete.

TB: I can see you doing that. I feel your lyrics. I hear you have a show coming up April 20 at SPiN New York. Tell me about it. Do you have anything special planned? Is it going to be a regular show? Are you hype?
J. Artiste: A few years back I went by a different name and built buzz under that identity. The song “Love Hate Thing” was under my name Lyrically Illz. That name began limiting me. That persona was a lyrical assassin. This guy could throw word play like Eminem and Rakim. Back in 2011, I had a meeting with demo reps, one from Shady Records, Rick Moralas. He heard my music and told me “you can’t call yourself Lyrically Illz with a song like this. It’s limiting you. People are expecting a certain sound.” I remember when he told me this. I said dam, I’m placing myself in a box. This is my first show coming out as J. Artiste. I’m going to show you a more diverse side of me – a blend of lyricism with a commercial touch.

TB: How long have you been in music?
J. Artiste: I got into my own taste of music when I was 12. I was actually into alternative rock to start. I was listening to 3 Doors down, Creed, Linkin Park, Disturbed, etc. Funny enough – I became a huge fan of Linkin Park and Mike Shinoda was actually my very first taste of “rap”. From there I started writing rhymes in the back of my math class and slowly got more involved in Hip-Hop. I’ve always been around the realm of entertainment. My grandmother comes from the entertainment world. Her dad was an American Indian radio personality back in the day during the great depression. That’s essentially how they were able to survive that time because he made decent money. My grandmother was actually the first American Indian to win Miss Oklahoma and the very first Miss Congeniality. She also founded the American Indian Community House in NYC. My mom listened to all types of music and put me on to the classics; she loves everything from Prince, to Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, Marvin Gaye to the Rolling Stones. My grandfather was an artist. Artiste actually comes from him because he used to sign his paintings with the signature WillArtiste. He inspired me a lot in many ways, he was literally like a second dad.

TB: How long ago was the transition from Lyrically iLLz to J. Artiste? When was the last show you had under your previous persona?
J. Artiste: My last show as Lyrically iLLz was early 2014 at Trash Bar in Brooklyn, NY. Right before that, I opened up for Talib Kweli and Kellee Maize in San Diego, CA for Indie Fest. I was doing shows and coming up as Lyrically illz. What set me back was a bad surgery. I had appendicitis and it almost killed me. It made the music slow down for me and during the time of recovering, I reflected on a lot of things. Maybe this was my time to move out of that box I was limiting myself in. Shortly after my recovery I met Brandon Chow, taking on the role of my manager. We spoke about everything, I told him my thoughts and in 2015, we changed it up and decided to become J. Artiste. That’s when I decided I wanted to be universal. More than just a “rapper”.

TB: I hear something about H-Art coming out this year. Can I get a hint? What is it?
J. Artiste: Right now, I have many drafted ideas. Some of them I’ll probably be performing which may end up on the final project based on the reaction from the crowds.

TB: If it’s one thing you want everyone to take home from the show, what is it?
J. Artiste: I hope they connect with me, the way I connect with my songs and feel the same energy I feel; I want us to have that connection and to just have fun together.

TB: If you had three artist you could do music with, who would they be and why?
J. Artiste: That’s a very hard question for me….of all time? I know I’ve always wanted to work with Mos Def (or Yasiin Bey as he calls himself now) and Method Man for sure. During their time, they were doing the melodic singing with the rap, like how things are today. They were ahead of their time. They had the mindset that people sometimes just didn’t understand.

TB: What’s crazy is how time repeats itself. Old music is coming back and is slightly modified. But if you see the styles, you see music repeating itself.
J. Artiste: This is really a tough question. If we’re going current, who wouldn’t want to work with Jay Z to pick his brain, to get that experience?

TB: Who are some of the artists you like to listen to right now?
J. Artiste: I really like that kid Isiah Rashad. He wasn’t on the Black Panther album so it scares me to think he’s no longer with TDE. I feel like he has something that’s a little different about him. I won’t lie, I like Drake. He’s a hit maker. It would be cool to work with him too. Mainly I’ve just had throwbacks on rotation though.

TB: Being from New York, one of the most culturally rich cities ever, does that influence or pressure you a little bit as an artist?
J. Artiste: Not at all. It doesn’t pressure me. Maybe it’s because I came up from New York. If anything, it motivates me. When I hear someone who’s crazy good, where you know they’ve obsessively perfected their craft like a Joyner Lucas or a Kendrick Lamar – I get motivated to want to top their level. It’s a mutual respect and here in NY there’s a lot of that. It’s almost like a friendly competitive nature I guess. Not to sound arrogant or cocky because I’m really not, but it’s rare that I hear rappers spit in ways that I can’t already spit myself (and that’s just because I’ve put in so many hours obsessively) – so I’m definitely more inspired when I hear artists take it to a level that I can find challenging.

TB: Thank you man. It was great talking to you. I’m going to get back to listening to your music and I look forward to seeing coverage of the BeSpoke Showcase April 20.